Own a Piece of History – An Exceptional Taisho-Era Imperial Japan Photo Album. This is an original photo album documenting the Special Grand Festival (“Rinji Taisai”) held at Yasukuni Shrine in April, Taisho 10 (1921). A luxury first-edition volume featuring gold-decorated endpapers, four-edge gilding, and traditional Japanese ribbon binding. Complete with its original outer case. Yasukuni Shrine was the central state institution dedicated to honoring the fallen soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. Throughout the Meiji and Taisho eras, the shrine served as. A national military memorial site. A place for state-sponsored rituals. A venue for Imperial family visits (Shinpan / Royal attendance). A symbolic space for military morale and national identity. During the Taisho era-after the Russo-Japanese War and during the social changes after WWI-Yasukuni became the core of Japan’s modern military ceremonial culture. What is the “Special Grand Festival” (Rinji Taisai)? Unlike ordinary annual festivals, a Rinji Taisai was an extraordinary state ceremony conducted for. Newly enshrined war dead. Large-scale visits by the Emperor, Crown Prince, or senior nobles. Combined ceremonies of the Army, Navy, and State. The 1921 festival recorded here reflects the post-Siberian Expedition era, with increased enshrinements and major military reorganization. The album includes rare photographs documenting. Imperial family attendance (Taisho-era court attire visible). High-ranking Army & Navy officers. Ritual formations, honor guards, and military delegations. Night-time ceremonies with lined soldiers. Traditional shrine performances and sacred dances. Large crowds of citizens (social history value). Detailed ritual sequences recorded with clarity. This edition is significantly rarer than the later Showa versions. Outer case shows age fading. Album body and photographs remain clean, crisp, and well preserved. Complete pages, no missing plates. A superior surviving example among existing copies. Published: Taisho 10 (1921). Format: Large oblong, approx. 380 × 270 mm. Binding: Ribbon-tied / gilt edges / gold-decorated papers. A truly exceptional artifact for collectors of Imperial Japanese military history, shrine history, or early 20th-century photography. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
This is an original prewar Imperial Japanese Army Railway Regiment commemorative metal sake cup, dating to 1930. The center features the insignia of the Army Railway troops, together with an army star and decorative floral motifs. Above the design are the characters: “Seion” – Imperial Favor In this context, “Imperial Favor” refers to special grace or recognition granted by the Emperor. Around the rim is an inscription stating, in substance, that: In February 1930, an Imperial Aide-de-Camp was dispatched and a special Imperial message was conveyed. The exact wording of that message and the specific individual who received it are not currently known. However, the inscription itself clearly connects this cup to a specific event involving the Imperial household and the military unit. That makes this different from an ordinary discharge or service souvenir. It was made to commemorate a moment when the Imperial court formally acknowledged or addressed the unit. The Railway Regiment was a specialized branch of the Imperial Japanese Army responsible for military railway construction, operation, repair, and transport support. These troops worked behind the front lines to keep men, equipment, and supplies moving, making them an important but less visible part of the Army. This small cup therefore preserves several layers of history in one object: Imperial Japanese Army Railway Regiment Imperial Aide-de-Camp Imperial Favor 1930 military commemoration Approximate size: 75 mm diameter × 23 mm high The cup has a silver-colored metal exterior with a gold-colored interior finish. Age-related toning and wear are present, but the design and inscription remain clearly visible. Recommended for collectors of Imperial Japanese Army memorabilia, railway troops, military sake cups, prewar Japan, and Imperial military history. A small object marking a specific connection between the Imperial court and an Army technical unit nearly a century ago. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
Featuring numerous photographs and explanatory text, the book introduces Japanese naval vessels-including battleships-as well as the daily work and training of naval personnel and the role of the navy. What Did the Imperial Japanese Navy Look Like Eight Years Before Pearl Harbor? In December 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor became the event that marked the beginning of the Pacific War. This book, however, was published eight years earlier, in 1933. At that time, the Imperial Japanese Navy was a large naval force equipped with battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, aircraft, and other military assets. 1933 was also the year Japan announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations. As the international situation continued to change, interest in the role of the navy and maritime defense was growing in Japan. About Kaigun Kenkyusha Kaigun Kenkyusha, the publisher of this book, was an organization that introduced naval knowledge and information through publications. The book appears to have been intended not only for naval specialists, but also for general Japanese readers interested in warships and naval activities. It presents the structure and importance of the navy in a way that could be understood by a broad audience. It is also an interesting historical source for understanding how the Japanese public viewed and understood the navy during this period. The Imperial Japanese Navy of the 1930s in Photographs Opening the pages reveals images of the Imperial Japanese Navy as it appeared at the time, including the bridges and decks of massive battleships and warships sailing at sea. Although warships were enormous weapons of war, they were operated by hundreds of crew members-sometimes more than one thousand. The book also includes maps showing the waters surrounding Japan, along with explanations concerning maritime defense. These materials offer insight into why Japan considered naval power so important during this era. A Time Before the Outcome of the War Was Known When this book was published in 1933, the Pacific War had not yet begun. The warships and sailors shown in these photographs would later face a turbulent and tragic period in history. We know how history ended. However, the people who held this book in their hands at the time did not yet know what the future would bring. Seen in this context, the book is more than a simple introduction to warships. It is also a historical record of how the Japanese navy was presented to the public during an era that was moving toward war. Condition This is an original copy published in 1933. Due to age, it shows discoloration, stains, and wear to the covers and spine. The spine, in particular, has noticeable age-related deterioration. Please review all photographs carefully for the detailed condition. An excellent historical reference for collectors and researchers interested in the prewar Imperial Japanese Navy, warships, naval aviation history, and Japan during the period leading up to World War II. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
Published in Japan in 1937, this original illustrated book is titled The Glorious Japanese Army – An Illustrated Book of Military Knowledge. At first glance, it may look like simply an old children’s picture book. Open the pages, however, and it becomes a fascinating window into how the Japanese Army was presented to young people in the late 1930s. The year 1937 was also the year the Second Sino-Japanese War began. The book introduces the Imperial Japanese Army through colorful illustrations designed to make military subjects easy for young readers to understand. Inside are illustrations of Japanese Army uniforms, soldiers’ equipment, military insignia, rank markings and military banners, together with many different aspects of the Army itself. There are also sections showing military aircraft and aerial bombing, tanks and armored vehicles, machine guns, artillery, military bugles, transportation and supplies. What makes this book particularly interesting is that it was not a technical manual produced for soldiers. It was created for children. For today’s collector, that gives the book another dimension. Beyond the aircraft, tanks and uniforms, these pages preserve something less tangible: how the Japanese military was introduced to children during the 1930s. One particularly interesting section compares the armies of several countries, with illustrations representing Japan, Britain, Germany, France, the Soviet Union and others. It provides a fascinating glimpse of how foreign militaries were presented to Japanese children in 1937. Even if you cannot read Japanese, the numerous color illustrations make this an enjoyable piece to explore. Aircraft, armored vehicles, uniforms, equipment and insignia are all presented visually, allowing us to see much of the same military world that a Japanese child would have discovered while turning these pages nearly 90 years ago. Condition This is an original period children’s book and shows considerable age-related wear, staining and discoloration. As clearly visible in the photographs, there is also material loss along the lower edges of a number of pages, apparently from insect damage. Despite its age and wear, the surviving illustrations remain remarkably interesting. This book preserves more than pictures of military equipment. It preserves the image of the Japanese Army as it was shown to children in 1937. An unusual piece for collectors interested in the Imperial Japanese Army, military aviation, armored vehicles, uniforms, or the social and educational history of prewar Japan. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
Its title translates as: “The Elite of the Imperial Japanese Navy” The album was produced to commemorate the National Defense and Industry Exposition held in Japan in 1935. Akagi would later become one of the most famous Japanese aircraft carriers of World War II, participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor before being lost at the Battle of Midway in 1942. But this album was published in 1935-six years before the Pacific War began. The album goes well beyond portraits of individual warships. It includes photographs of battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, naval aircraft, seaplanes, aerial formations, torpedo firing, fleet maneuvers and dramatic nighttime searchlight exercises. The opening pages also record the dates of the National Defense and Industry Exposition: From March 27, 1935 to May 10, 1935. The exposition was a public event presenting Japan’s national defense and modern industry to ordinary visitors. This gives the album another interesting historical dimension: it shows not only the Japanese Navy itself, but also how naval power and technology were presented to the Japanese public in the mid-1930s. For collectors today, the timing is particularly fascinating. Battleships still represented enormous naval power, while aircraft carriers and naval aviation were becoming increasingly important. Both worlds appear side by side in these pages. The album is more than 90 years old and shows age-related wear, staining and discoloration. Please examine the photographs carefully for condition. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
This is an original 1937 Imperial Japanese Army radio communications training photo album containing approximately 65 original photographs. The cover is gilt-lettered with the large unit name: “Hirokawa Unit” and, beneath it in smaller lettering: “Ogushi Unit” “Imari Unit” It is also clearly marked: Commemorative Album for Radio Communications Training, 1937. The exact organizational relationship between these three unit names cannot be confirmed from the album alone, but all three are clearly recorded on the original cover, making this a particularly interesting unit-specific military document. The album contains far more than ordinary soldier portraits. It documents the actual training of Imperial Japanese Army communications personnel, including instructors, assistant instructors, trainees, classroom instruction, radio equipment, field exercises, and unit life. Original Japanese captions visible in the album include: “Instructors and Assistant Instructors” “Trainees” “Hirokawa Unit Headquarters Staff” “Communications Training, Part 1″ “Communications Training, Part 2″ “Receiving Apparatus” “Telegraph Key” “Air-Ground Communication” One of the most striking photographs shows soldiers wearing headphones while practicing radio reception inside a classroom. Another shows an instructor teaching communications procedures at a blackboard. These images provide an unusually direct look at how Imperial Japanese Army signal personnel were actually trained before the Pacific War. The album also contains numerous outdoor radio training photographs. Several images show soldiers gathered around field radio sets with antennas erected in the open. Original caption labels include: Type 94 No. 5 Group” “Type 15 No. 3 Group” “Type 15 No. 5 Group These photographs appear to document training groups organized around specific communications equipment. Another particularly interesting photograph is captioned Air-Ground Communication. It shows personnel working with communication equipment while large ground panels are spread out in an open field, apparently as part of training for communication or signaling between ground units and aircraft. In addition to the technical training photographs, the album includes images of officers, unit headquarters personnel, military vehicles, barracks life, meals, large group portraits, monuments, buildings, and scenes believed to have been taken in Manchuria. Many photographs are accompanied by original Japanese caption labels and handwritten Romanized notes. This is not simply a collection of unrelated military photographs. It is a coherent visual record of the same soldiers, units, equipment, and communications training program. Military communications were the nervous system of an army. Orders, intelligence, artillery coordination, movement, and contact between ground and air units all depended on trained signal personnel. The men shown in this album were part of that invisible network. With approximately 65 original period photographs, named units, communications equipment, classroom training, field radio exercises, and air-ground communication scenes, this album is an exceptionally interesting source for collectors and researchers of: Imperial Japanese Army Signal Corps Military Radio Communications Manchuria Japanese Field Radios Prewar Military Training Military Communications History The album cover shows age-related wear, rubbing, edge loss, and deterioration. The photographs and album pages also show age-related toning, staining, lifting, and other signs of age. Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
This is an original commemorative plate made in November 1928 for the Enthronement of Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa). The inscription on the reverse reads: “Commemoration of the Imperial Enthronement Celebration November 1928 Imperial Japanese Army Banquet Facility” The term used in the original Japanese inscription refers to a facility associated with the serving of ceremonial meals during the Imperial celebration. Period records from the 1928 Enthronement also document special banquet and meal facilities established for the ceremonies. Another important feature is the maker. The reverse bears the NORITAKE / NIPPON TOKI KAISHA backstamp. Nippon Toki Kaisha was the company behind Noritake, which had already become one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of high-quality Western-style tableware by the prewar period, with its porcelain exported internationally. It brings together three distinctive elements: Emperor Hirohito’s 1928 Enthronement, the Imperial Japanese Army, and Noritake. The center features a gold five-pointed star associated with the Imperial Japanese Army, surrounded by elegant phoenix and paulownia designs. 9.4 inches (24 cm). Nearly a century old, the plate shows age-related surface wear, staining and some wear to the decoration. Please examine the photographs carefully for condition. Dated November 1928, its connection to the Imperial ceremony and the Japanese Army remains permanently recorded on the reverse. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
Incredibly rare Volume 1, April 19, 1931 “The Legation Guard News” magazine catering to the Embassy US Marines of Peking, China. Illustrated by famed Marine artist John Thomason. Published by the North China Standard for the Legation Guard at Peking (Peiping) Chock full of articles and advertisements for Peking businesses serving the Marines in Peking, China in the Golden era of early China. China duty was desired by Marines and being a Peking Guard was a top honor for the “China Marines”. Issue is complete and in very good condition with typical foxing to spine and edges. This issue is approaching 100 years old! There are very few Volume 1 issues that ever come to the collector’s market!
This is a prewar Japanese lacquer sake cup made to commemorate the Imperial Enthronement Ceremony, or “Grand Enthronement, ” of Emperor Hirohito. The cup is finished in deep red lacquer with a gold phoenix and floral design. The original wooden box also bears the same commemorative inscription and company name. Although the cup itself is not dated, its period can be identified through the history of the company. Was established in 1922 and ceased to exist under this name after its merger in 1941. The only Imperial Enthronement Ceremony held during that period was the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito in 1928. For this reason, this piece can be confidently attributed to the 1928 Imperial Enthronement celebrations. The most unusual aspect of this item is the company behind it. In prewar Japan, military conscription could have a significant financial impact on a young man and his family. This makes the cup more than simply a commemorative sake vessel. It represents an unusual intersection of Imperial ceremony, military conscription, private business, and everyday life in prewar Japan. Please note that this is not confirmed to be a military-issued sake cup. The original wooden box and wrapping cloth are included. The cup remains in attractive condition for its age, while the box shows age-related wear and cracking. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition. A fascinating piece of Japanese social history from an era when military conscription was closely connected with everyday civilian life. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
